nadjsim's reviews
233 reviews

Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart

3.75

Not gonna lie, I’ve been in a major reading slump before I picked up this audiobook and basically binged it in an afternoon. Generally speaking, audiobook narration can be hit or miss. Usually it’s either completely flat or over-the-top weird and animated, but the Perfect Girl nailed the tone. It was just unique and fun enough that it pulled me into the story right from the start. 

While the story itself doesn’t employ any new or groundbreaking plot points, it is an interesting, fast-paced YA thriller that kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time. So, if you’re looking for something relatively light to fill a foggy, stormy fall afternoon - Perfect Girl is it.

If I could, I’d give it extra points just for Betty the ghost. 

 Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

i onda opet, iz početka by Filip Grujić

4.0

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

4.0

 The Ministry of Time just introduced me to the concept of cozy sci-fi, and I love it. If you hate fun and whimsy, this might not be for you. 

Meduze žive zauvek dok ih ne uhvate by Nađa Petrović

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Skup intruzivnih misli kao knjiga. Što bi se reklo, "nit smrdi, nit miriše" a to je baš ironično jer bukvalno sve u ovoj knjizi konstantno smrdi na ribu, cigare i buđ. 

Someone Like You by Sandy Barker

2.75

 Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Someone Like You is a sweet, Hallmarky romance that I completely devoured in basically two sittings. It’s an easy-to-read, friends-to-lovers story with a cast of quirky characters. Although I quite enjoyed it, there were definitely parts that I had issues with, starting with narration.

As someone who’s never read this series before, I really don’t understand the choice to include Poppy’s POV. It was completely unnecessary to the plot and, frankly, seemed like a cop-out for the author, who didn’t want to bother convincing the audience that Gaby really does have feelings for Raff and just told us how obvious it was instead.

On the topic of those feelings, I was really hoping for a fun revelation. However, what we got instead just seemed improbable. As a chronic overthinker, I don't really buy Gaby being so oblivious to her feelings for such a long time. While there were a few hints of her questioning herself, the switch to realizing her feelings seemed too sudden for me. Gabby really went from “Am I jealous?... I MUST BE IN LOVE!” to “I HAVE TO TELL EVERYONE I KNOW I’M IN LOVE!” in basically a chapter.

All in all, Someone Like You is a quick and charming read, perfect to cozy up with on a cold winter afternoon. 

Our Shouts Echo by Jade Adia

4.5

Honestly, this sounded so silly I couldn't resist. For some reason I didn't think reading about an anxious teen doomsday prepper with abandonment issues falling in love would be so relatable, but it was. And now I'm crying. Wish I read this first when I was fifteen. 

Kill Two Birds by Thomas Bjørn

1.0

I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell

3.5

The Ballad of Darcy and Russell by Morgan Matson

2.5

In 2014, I read Since You’ve Been Gone. It was the first Matson book I picked up, completely by accident, and I fell in love with it. What worked so well in that book was the small-town charm, quirky family dynamics, fun banter, and, most of all, relatability; I felt like that story was about me. I still revisit it sometimes out of nostalgia. Matson's other books had a similar vibe, and I found a piece of myself in them too. However, in this one, I just didn't feel it.
Don't get me wrong, it was a fast and cute read, but it didn't feel like a Matson book. Reading about celebrities and their huge houses and helicopters just doesn't hit the same. Even the small moment that I think we're supposed to reference Matson's other books felt a little cheapened.

Such Lovely Skin by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne

dark tense

3.5

Suck Lovely Skin is a dark and eerie read that had me locked in from the start. I’m honestly just glad I didn’t pick this one up at night. While the fast pace and intrigue kept me hooked, I was ready for this story to be over like halfway through. Some of the later scenes felt absolutely unnecessary, like they were only there to help the book reach a certain number of pages, rather than help the story move forward. That being said, I had a great, spooky time reading this, even if the ending could’ve been better.
 

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.